Sunday the 19th of February saw the studio hosting the 4th Youth Aerial Hoop Competition, organised and run by Solent Fitness & Aerial Arts. For the full report on the event, please see the SFAA blog here. Today we have asked Julie to give her thoughts on this event as well as others that her and her intrepid team of helpers run and have run here at the studio.

The youth aerial hoop competition is an opportunity for young hoopers to come together to show off their skills they have learnt, in a fun and friendly environment. It was lovely to watch them perform the routines they've been working hard on since Christmas and see how they've grown over the years. A few of the competitors from Solent Fitness & Aerial Arts have competed in all 4 of the competitions since it first started running, including my own daughter - and it's really amazing to see how far they have all come since those early days!

As a venue, with events like this you always worry about injury so you are on edge until it is all over!! I'm happy to report that there were no injuries on Sunday, just lots of happy children, teens and parents! I'm looking forward to teaching the Solent Fitness & Aerial Arts youth students when their regular instructor Zorena goes on maternity leave soon!

This event is an example of the many different types of events we run or have run at the studio, here's a few others: various children's dance competitions, numerous charity events/shows/parties, comedy nights, open mic nights, ladies nights, family social nights, quiz nights, various dance workshops for children AND adults, and live music nights. We have also hosted a christening, a wedding ceremony projector showing, a charity fitness modelling competition and even a wedding!

​3 times a year we offer the studio out for charity events where only the staff wages are charged for, this opportunity has been taken up this year by: the Children's Cancer trust, Macmillan Cancer trust and the Alzheimers & Dementia Trust.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE organising all of the above events, I enjoy the preparation and organisation that goes into it, and I especially love the end result and receiving positive feedback from hirers and guests! There is a lot to think about with running events at the studio, some considerations I have to take into account include: event ratios, DBS checks, first aid, insurance, catering needs etc. I also pay out a lot of money each year for the premises licence which includes live music, alcohol and the showing of movies! That is all before I even start thinking about the specific requests and demands for each individual event!! It is all worth it though! I have a brilliant team of helpers who help me set up, run and clear up after events!

I'm currently trying to organise a 6 hour dance workshop for local children in the Easter holidays with several different guest instructors - this is taking a lot of organisation trying to tie all the teachers together for the right dates and times etc.!

I always try to ask people for feedback after hosting their event or after they've attended an event as a guest and people tend to comment on the friendly and professional staff I have, whom I am very proud of and so blessed to have and work with! People are also always surprised at the size of the venue, and how we try to make the event individual to the requirements and goals of the event! I do try to go above and beyond the normal duties that other venues offer to make the event one to remember!

Any ideas for what events I can plan next are welcome in the comments!!!